Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-29
A GHOSTLY BARGE.
Its Appearance is Always a Fore
runner of Democratic Defeat.

ItS appearance Is AINd avs a Wv
runner of Democratic Defeat.
From tn. Nejc York Sun.
TAPPAHANNOCk, ESSEX COUNTY. VA,
Jan. 14.-This little river port on the
Rappahann0ck is noted throughout VIr-
gina for its superstitions. Indeed, many
OF the people in the neighDorhood believe
as firmly in the ghostly world as in the
existence ofthe winding river upon which
a great part OF their lives Ia spent. Their
ghosts seldom take the forms OF men and
women, however. The trOu6 led spirits
hereabouJs ind more comfort in sailing
or steaming up and down the river as
vessels. The most notable OF these
ghostly apparitions is the "Blaek Barge"
the fOrerunner Of Democratic defeat. Its
history is as follows:
Soon after the war. while the Demo-
cratic party of this Congress district was
in a state OF complete decentralization, an
election for Congressman came on. The
district had always gone Democratic,
and Tappahsnnock was considered the
banner Democratic town. The Democrats
hereabOuts went into the campaign Wig
orously, but from the first there were
grave doubts about the success of their
efforts, since the neighboring counties OF
King and Queen, Caroline, Middlesex
and SpOttsylvania were so impoverished,
and rendered SO desperate by the results
OF the war that their people cared little
about political campaigns. The night
before election day the TappabannOck
Democrats had :orchlight procession,
and held mass meeting on the river
banks. The usual rousing speeches were
made, refreshments were plentiful. and
Jolly time was had generally. just at
midnight, while the Democratic candI-
date was In the middle OF au eloquent
perOratiOn, man in the audience
shouted:
Look, fellowsi What is that queer
concern gong down the river!'
Everybody moved to the edge of the
river and peered into the darkness. Sure
enough, there was queer shaped barge
moving along slowly-a vessel the like of
which had never been seen in these
waters. Torches were brought forward,
and by their light the people saw, or
fancied they saw, a number OF gigantic
negroes on the barge, dancing gleefully
and making horrible grimaces at those on
shore. A dozen voices hailed the strange
vessel, but received no response. Then
several boatmen pulled out to see what
the thing WAS. In a half hour they re-
turned with very scared faces, declaring
that they had followed the barge for some
distance, when it suddenly disappeared
with veil Of triumph from the crew.
Everybody was surprised at first, but
soon the tendency to superstition cropped
out and by next morning nine-tenths of
the residents of Tappahannock were
firmly convinced that the barge was a
ghostly apparilOn and presaged nothing
good for the Democratic party that day.
Well, when election returns came in
from the district, 1t was found that the
Republicans mad elected their man by
good majority, and chiefly through the
large negro vote that had been polled.
When the news reached TaDpahannOck.
OF course, every one said, 81 told you So"
and nothing was much talked ri for
months afterward except the "Black
Barge"
six years ago it appeared again, and
was followed by Republican success once
more. Then it was seen no more until
last November. when it came forward to
defeat Mr.. CroXton, the sitting mem Der of
Congress. This last appearance was
about like the first. Mr.. CroxtOn was
addressing the Tsppahannock people on
the night of Nov. last, and was inter-
rupted by cries of 1.-The Black Barger'
THE Black Bargev Mr.. CroXton, who,
Of course, took no stock in the strange
story of the vessel, tried to regain the at
tentiOn OF the people and cautioned them
against being superstitous, but all to no
purpose. The meeting, which began with
merriment ard enthusiasm, ended in ST.
lence and general significant shaking
OF the heads. Next day the Tappahan-
nOckltes went to the polls with gloomy
cOuRtenances and freely predicted CrOX-
toms defeat. Two days later all the re-
turns were in and it was announced that
Judge Bayey Brown, Republican, was
elected by over 1000 ma ority.